🔗 Share this article

For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable